Compare towns
Plainfield vs Northfield vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainfield | Northfield | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
5,920Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.